codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Codex CLI /permissions omits Read-only in WSL2 but shows it in Windows PowerShell

What version of Codex CLI is running?

codex-cli 0.132.0

What subscription do you have?

Pro

Which model were you using?

gpt-5.5, high reasoning effort

What platform is your computer?

WSL2 on Windows, running Linux:

Linux <HOSTNAME> 6.6.87.2-microsoft-standard-WSL2 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Terminal: Windows Terminal
Shell: bash in WSL2; Windows PowerShell for comparison
Codex install: npm

What issue are you seeing?

In the Codex CLI TUI running inside WSL2, /permissions does not show a Read-only option. In native Windows PowerShell on the same machine, also running codex-cli 0.132.0, the /permissions menu does include a Read-only option.

The WSL2 menu only shows:

Update Model Permissions

> 1. Default      Codex can read and edit files in the current workspace, and
                  run commands. Approval is required to access the internet or
                  edit other files.
  2. Auto-review Same workspace-write permissions as Default, but eligible
                  `on-request` approvals are routed through the auto-reviewer
                  subagent.
  3. Full Access Codex can edit files outside this workspace and access the
                  internet without asking for approval. Exercise caution when
                  using.

There is no Read-only entry, even though:

• ~/.codex/config.toml sets sandbox_mode = "read-only"
• codex --help documents --sandbox read-only
• codex sandbox linux --permissions-profile :read-only ... enforces read-only correctly
• OpenAI docs say /permissions should support switching to Read-only mode

This makes it impossible to switch into read-only mode from the WSL2 TUI without restarting Codex with CLI flags.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. In WSL2, configure Codex with:

approval_policy = "on-request"
sandbox_mode = "read-only"
approvals_reviewer = "user"

1. Start Codex:

codex

1. Open the permissions menu:

/permissions

1. Observe that the menu only shows:

Default
Auto-review
Full Access

1. Compare with native Windows PowerShell on the same machine and same Codex version, where /permissions includes Read-only.

What is the expected behavior?

The WSL2 /permissions menu should include a Read-only option, matching native Windows PowerShell and the documented CLI behavior.

Docs:

• https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#approval-modes
• https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security
• https://developers.openai.com/codex/permissions

Additional information

Relevant WSL2 config:

model = "gpt-5.5"
model_reasoning_effort = "high"
personality = "pragmatic"
approvals_reviewer = "user"
approval_policy = "on-request"
sandbox_mode = "read-only"

[projects."/home/<user>"]
trust_level = "trusted"

[projects."/home/<user>/projects"]
trust_level = "trusted"

[projects."/mnt/c/Users/<user>"]
trust_level = "trusted"

[projects."/mnt/c/Users/<user>/projects"]
trust_level = "trusted"

Native Windows config is equivalent for the relevant permission settings:

approval_policy = "on-request"
sandbox_mode = "read-only"

[windows]
sandbox = "elevated"

codex doctor --summary in WSL2 reports:

Codex Doctor v0.132.0 · linux-x86_64
✓ config loaded
✓ sandbox restricted fs + restricted network · approval OnRequest

The lower-level sandbox profile does enforce read-only correctly:

codex sandbox linux --permissions-profile :read-only -C /home/<user>/projects/<repo> touch /tmp/codex-readonly-probe

Result:

touch: cannot touch '/tmp/codex-readonly-probe': Read-only file system

For comparison, :workspace allows a harmless write probe:

codex sandbox linux --permissions-profile :workspace -C /home/<user>/projects/<repo> touch /tmp/codex-workspace-probe

Result: command exits successfully.

This appears to be a WSL2/Linux TUI menu issue rather than a sandbox enforcement issue, because read-only enforcement works when selected explicitly via CLI/profile.